PRISM’S PICKS a selection of our staff’s pop culture recommendations
Daniella’s pop choices of 2021 2021 has been delivering in terms of new music! I have to admit it – very few things get me more hyped than music release Fridays. Here are my top five new song releases of 2021: 1. “drivers license” - Olivia Rodrigo If you say you haven’t heard this song, I don’t believe you. Miss Olivia Rodrigo has taken the world by storm with the first debut single to spend its first six weeks on the Hot 100 at #1, and it is entirely well-deserved! This song fully embodies the feelings associated with heartbreak, and it made me sad over a breakup that I didn’t even have. Not to mention, her voice is absolutely spectacular...and she’s only 17! She served with this one! 2. “right where you left me” - Taylor Swift How could Taylor not be included in this list? The woman does not rest. We got two outstanding albums last year (she saved 2020...there, I said it), and she released two bonus tracks from “evermore” on Jan. 7, 2021! This particular song is my favorite of the two; her vocals really shine, and it feels nostalgic because of the country twang that she incorporates in both her tone and the music. After all, she did start off her career as a country singer; it comes naturally to her. This song is about a girl who has her heart broken, and she stays frozen in time, not wanting to move on. It’s heart-wrenching in the best way. 3. “Beginning Middle End” - Leah Nobel In honor of the release of “To All the Boys: Always & Forever”, I had to include Peter and Lara Jean’s official song! If you have no idea what I’m talking about, this song is from a Netflix film franchise that premiered its final film in midFebruary; the main couple in the movie picked this song as “their song” and danced to it. It was the cutest thing ever. Nobel is a relatively new artist, and she blends the folk, pop and alternative genres seamlessly while providing really meaningful lyrics. Give this song a listen if you haven’t yet! 4. “Like 1999” - Valley The story behind this song’s release would not have made sense a couple of years ago; Valley posted a TikTok of themselves recording this song, and it went viral. It got a million views and thousands of comments from both fans and people who had just discovered them. They ended up releasing it a few days later. I want to get in the car with my friends and drive to the beach while blasting this song. It feels like summer! 5. “main thing” - Ariana Grande Ariana has blessed us with the deluxe version of “positions”, and this is one of the four bonus tracks. As a long-time fan, I am overjoyed that she is releasing songs about how happy and in love she is now! Her smooth, controlled voice and the R&B vibes come together to make a really soulful love song. She also wrote the lyrics, did the background vocals and served as the vocal producer. She’s an absolute boss. Story by Daniella Conde
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Spring 2021
